Window operator



March 17, 1959 Hh, s, KUYPER` 2,877,842

WINDOW OPERATOR Filed July 20, 1956 F0 l /0 y54 @a s ya@ fa f 02 @N9 \B(52 I 1-74 8% da/7 7f3@ lg 7@ 739 o o o O'IIHUO ole-@i 8 66 2 JNVENTOR: 5T l il 52@ 7a BY l ATTORNEYS.

WINDOW OPERATOR Herman S. Kuyper, Pella, Iowa, assignor to Rolscreen Company, Pella, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application July 20, 1956, Serial No. 599,238 Claims. (Cl. 160-95) This invention is a continuation-in-part of my application S. N. 413,224, liled March l, 1945, now abandoned, and relates to a window sash construction of the type having an outer out-swinging window frame and an inner fixed screen frame, and more particularly to a throughscreen or under-screen window operator for use therewith.

Presently available for bar operators of the type designed to open an out-swinging window without making it first necessary to open or remove a fixed screen generally have the disadvantage of projecting inwardly into the room for a substantial distance, particularly when the window is opened a small amount only. In addition, conventional bar-operators of this general type are mechanically inefficient and require considerable manual force to elect their operation, particularly in initially opening and finally closing the out-swinging window.

It is a primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a bar operator construction wherein the extent of projection of the actuator arm into the States Patent- O room is substantially less than those of the prior art,

over the full range of open window positions.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a bar operator for Windows of this general type lhaving a lever arm with a mechanical advantage in effecting initial opening and closing of the window, thereby permitting easier manual operation than conventional bar operators.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a guide means for use with a through-screen or underscreen bar operator for windows, wherein opposed staggered entry and exit openings are provided through which the control arm of the bar operator extends, the control arm having an S-bend along its length cooperating with the staggered openings to permit the arm tobe posithe guide for effecting window opening and closing while having restricted side to side play in all positions of adjustment.

lt is still another object of this invention to provide a guide housing deiining a slide passage for cooperation with the control arm of a bar operator for windows,

wherein the slide passage provides a narrowly restricted l I clearance space between the control arm and the housing in all adjusted positions of sliding movement therethrough for effecting a substantially insect-tight closure.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a guide means for cooperation with the control arm of a bar operator for windows, wherein novel manually actuated locking means are provided for selectively locking the window in various positions of open adjustment.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a guide housing, for cooperation with the control arm of a bar operator for windows, which is of unitary molded nylon form.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationed at various angles of sliding adjustment through 50 f 2,877,842 ce Patented Mar. 17, 1959 tion of the various parts of my window operator whereby the objects contemplated are obtained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing,wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partly in cross section, of a Window construction employing a bar operator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross sectional view looking down on the bar operator of Fig. l, and showing the operator in both closed and open positions of window adjustment;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional View, on an enlarged scale, looking down on the guide housing employed in the construction of Figures 1 and 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical cross sectional views taken substantially as indicated along the lines 4-4 and 5-5 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the guide housing;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the control arm of the bar operator employed in the construction of Figs. 1 and 2; and l Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sectional views, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially as indicated along the lines 8--8 and 9--9 on Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawing, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a window frame construction, generally, as seen in Fig. l. The construction comprises a plurality of side elements 12 suitably joined together at their intersecting corners to form a rectangular frame defining an opening 14 therethrough. A window sash 16 is hingedly secured along its upper side to the upper side of the frame construction 10. A pane of glass, or other translucent window material, is indicated at 18.

A screen frame 20 is seated within a peripheral ledge 22 of the side elements 12. The screen frame 20 is removably secured to the window sash side elements 12 in conventional manner by means of spring biased detents or the. like 24. A screen Within the screen frame is indicated at 26. The screen frame 20 is provided with a suitable cut-awayk in its bottom side portion adapted to tightly engage the top and sides of a guide housing 3l). Theguide housing 30 is fixedly secured in position upon the ledge 22 of the bottom side element 12 so as to cooperate with the screen frame 20 in tightly engaged relation within the window sash construction, while permittingthe guide housing 30 to extend through thescreen frame 20 to face both the outer or window side and the inner or room side thereof.

rljhe guide housing 30 is particularly formed with an integrally-molded, unitary body 32. It is highly Virnportant that the one-piece body 32 be molded of a material which is of a tough and horny nature, having high durability and impact strength, having a low coelicient of'friction with metals, and being resistant to corrosion or deterioration. For these purposes it is preferable that the body 32 be molded of nylon.

The body 32 is formed with a plurality of bores 34 adapted to receive mounting screws or the like Afor attachment to the lower side element 12. A glide passage 36 of particular shape and contour extends through the body 32. The passage 36 is generally horizontally disposed and is angularly inclined so as to terminate in laterally staggered outer and inner openings 38 and 40, respectively. A bottom wall 42 provides a generally horizontal surface adjacent the Outer opening 38, and provides a downwardly inclined portion 44 adjacent the inner opening 40. A generally horizontal top wall 46 defines a restricted height for the passage 36. A pair of generally parallel, vertical side walls 48 and 50 complete -the glide passage, and cooperate with the staggered relation of the openings 38 and 40 to determine the sliding movement of a control arm 52 therethrough. In order to facilitate such sliding movement, and to avoid problems of corrosion or deterioration, the control arm 52 is preferably formed of aluminum.

An elongated control arm, formed of aluminum or like corrosion-resistant metal, is indicated generally at S2. The control arm 52 is provided between its ends with a curved portion forming an S-bend 52a. The control arm 52 extends through the inclined guide passage 36 of the guide housing 30, so as to position one portion thereof at the outer o r window side of the construction, and to position the other portion thereof at the inner or room side thereof. The terminal end of the outer portion of the control arm 52 is secured to the lower side of the window frame 16 by means of a linkage in the nature of gimbals, indicated generally at S4. The linkage 54 includes a horizontal pivot axis and a vertical pivot axis, a mounting flange 56 provides means for attaching the linkage to the lower side of the window sash 16, as by screws or the like. The flange 56 is formed with a pair of spaced hubs 58 adapted to receive a pivot pin 6 0 to define the horizontal pivot axis. A connector link 62 is formed with an ear portion 64 secured by means of a pivot pin 66 to the end of the control arm 52. In this way, the vertical pivot axis is defined. The link 62 is formed with a hub 68 adaptedk to be positioned between the mounting flange hubs 58 and to receive the pivot pin 60.

As best seen in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawing, the hubs 58 are formed with arcuate cut-away portions 70 defining abutment shoulders at the ends thereof. The hub 68 is formed at its opposite ends with arcuate projections 72 adapted to cooperate with the cut-aways 70. In lthis way, the hub 68 may be rotated relative to the hubs 58 on the pivot pin 60, and such rotation is limited by the stop action of the cooperating cut-aways 70 and projections 72. In practice, the range of rotation which is permitted is an arc of about 90. The vertical pivot pin 66 permits free rotation of the lever arm 52 relative to the mounting flange 56, and it is limited only by abutment of the arm 52 against the hubs of the horizontal pivot axis, thereby enabling an arc of rotation of about 180.

In this manner, the hinged window frame 16 may be swung upwardly and outwardly by longitudinal sliding and angular shifting of the control arm 52 within the guide housing in an arcuate manner. It will be apparent that the laterally inclined side walls 48, 50 and the upwardly inclined bottom wall portion 44 serve to guidingly restrain the control arm 52 in its angular and a'rcuate path of movement. In particular, the housing wall portions provide fulcrum surfaces against which the control arm 52 cooperates in the manner of a lever to achieve a substantial and highly leihcient mechanical advantage for window operation. j y

A removable knob 74 is vsecured to the control arm 52 at its inner terminal eiid. The knob 74 provides a downwardly extending axial pin portion 76. A locking bracket 78 is rigidly secured to the bottom side element 12, and provides a suitable key slot within which the pin 76 may be cooperatively engaged to lock the window 16 in a closed position.

The control arm 52 is formed with a plurality of consecutive lock recesses 80 along its lower surface. A reciprocable plunger 82 is mounted within the guide housing 30 for releasable, locking cooperation within each of the recesses 80. As best seen in Fig. 4, the plunger 82 is mounted for vertical sliding movement within a suitable bore 84 opening upwardly substantially centrally of the glide passage 36. A spring wire 86 has its one end extended through the plunger S2 and at its other end secured to the housing body 32. An actuatorusha'ft 88 is positionedl within a downwardly opening horizontal slot 90 formed n the body 32. The shaft 88 provides a cam shoulder 92 intermediate its length. The slot 90 is laterally open adjacent the cam shoulder 92 to permit free rotation of the shaft 88 within the slot 90. The size of the Shoulder 92 is suiciently greater than the Slot 90 to prevent outward withdrawal of the shaft 88 when properly positioned. Manual gripping means 94 are provided at the end of the shaft 88 which extends from the body 32 to enable manual rotation of the shaft. Suitable stops 96 and 98 on the body 32 provide limiting positions for rotation of the shaft 88.

It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft 88 will serve to move the cam shoulder 92 upwardly against the overlying spring wire 86, thereby causing a swinging movement of the free end of the wire which carries the plunger 82. In this way, the plunger' 82 may be selectively elevated above the bottom wall 42 of the glide passage 36 and fully withdrawn below the bottom wall, as desired. When the plunger 82 is moved toward an elevated position, as indicated by suitable indicia on the housing body 32 for rotation of the shaft 88, one of the recesses of the control arm 52 can readily be positioned in direct alignment over the bore 84 to receive the plunger 82 by moving the arm 52 slightly inward or outward to find a lock position. Cooperative reception of the plunger 82 within a selected recess 80 of the control arm 52 enables a locking of the swinging window in a corresponding position of open adjustment.

In Fig. 4, the lock" position of parts has been indicated. It will be apparent that the cam shoulder 92 is in a vertically squared position with the spring wire 86 in strong biasing engagement against the llat shoulder surface, when the plunger 82 is fully elevated. The elevated plunger 82 is thereby iixedly maintained in its upper position to insure its locking reception within a selected recess 80 of the control arm 52.

Referring now to the practical window operation of the construction shown in the drawing, the following series of steps effects unlocking, opening, closing and relocking of the out-swinging window without opening or removal of the xed screen.

When the pin 76 of the control arm knob 74 is engaged within the key slot of the locking bracket 78, the inner portion of the control arm 52 is in close adjacent relation to the inner face of the screen frame 20. Correspondingly, the outer portion of the control arm 52 will also be in close adjacent relation to the outer face of the screen frame 2t). Assuming that the window frame 16 is in a closed position within the frame construction 10, in closely adjacent and substantially parallel relation to the screen frame 20, the control arm 52 will have its inner and outer extending portions substantially parallel to the planes of the window and screen.v The S-bend portion 52a of the control arm is so positioned along the length of the arm, in relation to the linkage means 54, the guide housing 30, and the locking bracket 78, as to dispose the inclined S-bend portion 52a within the glide passage 36 when the parts are in Window-locked relation.

The perpendicular distance between the parallel inner and outer portions of the control arm 52, as determined by the angle of inclination and length of the S-bend `portion 52a, is predetermined with respect to the linkage means 54 and the locking bracket 78 so that the window frame 16 must be swung to a tightly closed position within the frame construction 10 in order to permit the knob pin 76 to be engaged within the bracket key slot. The knob pin and key slot are engaged and disengaged by lifting the knob 74 so as to bend the inner portion of the control arm 52 upwardly from the horizontal plane.

Y By arranging the conliguration of the control arm 52 in the aforesaid cooperating relation with the respective positions of the linkage means 54 and the locking bracket 78, I provide a mechanical lever arm advanva'ntag'e in effecting locking and initial opening of th'e window frame 16. It will be apparent that the glide vpassage 36 cooperateswith the S-be'nd portion 52a of the control arrn to provide a fulcrun'i poinfabo'ut which `the extended inner and outer portions of ythe control arm pivot as levers. Thus, force exerted at thehandle knob 74 is multiplied by the lever arm length of the control arm 52. The S-bend portion 52a` pivots at the glide passage 36 during window-closed locking and Aeffects a. pulling force upon they bottom window vframe s'ide toward tightly closed engagement within the construction.

from its seated position and to move it outwardly in an opening direction. v

Further opening of the window 16 is accomplished by sliding the control arm through the guide housing 30. Such sliding, of course, serves to draw the inner or knob end of the control arm 52 toward the window and away from the position of maximum extension into the room. It will be apparent, therefore, that the S-bend configuration of the control arm serves to achieve a mechanical lever arm advantage in effecting initial actuation for openingand closing the window, andJalso serves to limitthe swing of the inner or knob end of the control arm away from the window. The novel arrangement of the guide housing and its glide passage in cooperation with the S-bend portion of the control arm, for angular swinging and longitudinal sliding therethrough, provides an ef'licient bar operator extending through the fixed screen. The restricted cross-section of the glide passage 36 serves to closely surround the emergent crosssections of the control arm 52, thereby maintaining an effective insect-tight seal about the moving parts.

Although I have disclosed a detailed construction utilizing the novel window operator of the present invention in a window sash construction of the type having an outswinging frame and an inner fixed screen frame, it is apparent that my window operator may desirably be employed as an actuator for an out-swinging window alone. In such a construction, the guide housing may be conveniently positioned within the base frame portion of the window frame construction itself rather than in a screen frame as in the manner particularly disclosed.

Changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my window operator without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical improvements which may be reasonably included within their scope.

What I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a window construction, a fixed main frame defining a window opening therethrough, an outer outswinging window frame pivotally connected at its upper end to said main frame for opening movement at its lower end in an outward and upward path, an operator comprising an elongated rigid `control arm, a guide housing providing a glide passage therethrough having fixed spaced vertical parallel walls inclined relative to the plane of said window opening to provide laterally displaced openings facing toward opposite sides of said window opening, a lixed horizontal upper wall, and a fixed lower wall inclined downwardly at the side remote from the window, said control arm being slidable in and extending through said glide passage, the portion of said control arm extending outwardly from said guide housing being pivotally secured to the lower end of said window frame by pivot means providing Iboth horizontal and vertical pivot axes, the portion of said control arm extending inwardly from said guide housing providing a free end, said control arm having an S-bend portion cooperating with said guide housing to position Said extending portions of the control arm substantiallyparallel to the' 'plane of said window opening when saidwindow frame'is in a closedposition of close parallel adjacenc'y to 'said main frame, and said guide housing having lock meansadapted for releasable cooperation with said control arm for selective locking of said window in positions of open adjustment.

2. In a window construction, a fixed main frame defining a window `opening therethrough, an outer ,outswinging window frame an-d an inner fixed screen frame, said window frame being pivotallyconnected at its upper end to said main frame for opening ymovementy at\its lower end in an outward and upward path, an operator comprising an elongated rigid control arm, a guide housing providing a glide passage therethrough having fixed spaced vertical parallel walls inclined relative to the plane of said window opening to provide laterally displaced openings at opposite sides of said screen frame, a fixed horizontal upper wall, and a xed lower wall inclined downwardly at the side remote from the window, said control arrn being slidable in and extending through said guide passage, the portion of said control arm extending outwardly from said guide housing being pivotally secured to'the lower end of said window frame by pivot means providing both horizontal and vertical axes, the portion of said control arm extending inwardly from said guide housing providing a free end, said control arm having an vS-b'end portion cooperating with said guide housing to 'position said extending portions of the control arm substantially :parallel to said screen frame on opposite sides thereofwhen said window frame isin a closedposition of close parallel adjacency to said screen frame, and said guide housing having lock means adapted for releasable cooperation with said control arm for selective locking of said window in positions of open adjustment.

3. In a window construction, a xed main frame defining a window opening therethrough, an outer outswinging window frame pivotally connected at its upper end to said main frame for opening movement at its lower end in an outward and upward path, an operator comprising an elongated rigid control arm, a guide housing providing a glide passage therethrough having fixed spaced vertical parallel walls inclined relative to the plane of said window opening to provide laterally displaced openings facing toward opposite sides of said Amain frame, a fixed horizontal upper wall, and a fixed lower wall inclined downwardly at the side remote from the window, said control arm being slidable in and extending through said glide passage, the portion of said control arm extending outwardly from said guide housing being pivotally secured to the lower end of said window frame -by pivot means providing both horizontal and vertical pivot axes, the portion of said control arm extending inwardly from said guide housing providing a free end, said control arm having an S-bend portion cooperating with said guide housing to position said extending portions of the control arm substantially parallel to the plane of said window opening when said window frame is in a closed position of close parallel adjacency to said main frame, the portion of said control arm extending inwardly from said guide housing carrying a detachable knob to facilitate manipulation of said arm, said guide housing having lock means adapted for releasable cooperation with said control arm for selective locking of said window in positions of open adjustment, and a closure locking bracket rigidly secured to said main frame and cooperating with a portion of said knob to effect locking of said control arm in close adjacent relation to said main frame with said window frame in tightly closed relation within said main frame.

4. In a window construction, a fixed main frame defining a window opening therethrough, an outer outswinging window frame pivotally connected at its upper end to said main frame for opening movement at its lower end in an outwardand upward path, an operator comprising an elongated rigid control arm, a unitary guide housing integrally-molded of nylon and providing Va glide passage therethrough having lixed spaced vertical parallel walls inclined relative to the plane of said window opening to provide laterally displaced openings facing toward opposite sides of said window opening, a iixed horizontal upper wall, and a iixed lower wall inclined downwardly at the side remote from the window, said control arm extending through said glide passage in close sliding relation with said passage walls, the portion of said control arm extending outwardly from said glide housing being pivotally secured to the lowerend of said window and the portion of said control arm extending inwardly from said guide housing providing a free end, said `guide housing having a spring biased plunger mounted therein and normally extending through one of said passage walls into `said gli-de passage, said control arm being formed with a plurality of spaced recesses intermediate its ends to receive said plunger and etect selective locking of said window in positions of open adjustment, and means operative to withdraw said plunger frornsaid glide passage against said spring bias to permit free movement of said control arm through said glide passage.

5. In a window construction, a xed main frame defining a window opening therethrough, an outer outswinging window frame pivotally connected at its upper end to said main frame for opening movement at its lower end in an outward and upward path, an operator comprising an elongated rigid control arm, aunitary guide housing providing an integrally-molded glide pas- ,sage therethrough having fixed spaced vertical parallel walls inclined relative to the plane of said window opening to provide laterally displaced openings facing toward opposite sides of said window opening, a lixed horizontal upper wall, and a fixed lower wall inclined downwardly at the side remote from the window, said control arm extending through said glide passage in close sliding relation with said passage walls, the portion of said control arm extending outwardly from said guide housing being pivotally secured to the lower end of said window and the portion of said control arm extending inwardly from said guide housing providing a free end, said control arm having an S-bend portion cooperating with said guide housing to position said extending portions of the control arm substantially parallel to the plane of said window opening when said window frame is in a closed position of close parallel adjacency to said main frame, said guide housing having a plunger movably mounted therein to extend through one of said passage walls into said glide passage, said control arm being formed with a plurality of spaced recesses intermediate its ends to receive said plunger and effect selective locking of said window in positions of open adjustment and operating means carried by the guide housing to move the plunger.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 654,723 Franks July 31, 1900 1,453,881 McClarren May 1, 1923 1,873,399 Haskell Aug. 23, 1932 1,913,343 Sheard June 6, 1933 1,993,050 Cook Mar. 5, 1935 

